Severe storms are possible in Arkansas today and again late this weekend, the National Weather Service said.

The agency reported on its website that chances for strong to severe storms packing large hail and damaging winds will increase as Thursday progresses before decreasing late in the night. The Storm Prediction Center has the entire state under a slight risk for severe storms.

"Damaging winds should be a greater threat than large hail," National Weather Service meteorologist John Robinson said in a statement. "An isolated tornado or two could occur."

Central, east and northeast Arkansas will be have the greatest chances for severe storms; rainfall will total 1/4 inch to 3/4 inches "in many places," Robinson added.

Severe weather is even more likely to come Sunday into Monday as a strong storm system approaches, with damaging wind, large hail and maybe even a couple of tornadoes possible, forecaster said.

Rain is expected to be "substantial," totaling 1/2 inch to 1 inch in the state's west and up to 2 to 4 inches in the east, Robinson said.

Flash flood and river flooding will also increase with multiple rounds of rain showers coming through early next week, the weather service said.